ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Export of Organic Foodgrains
The National Centre for Organic Farming , under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, is the nodal organization for organic farming in the country. NCOF implements the National Project on Organic Farming  to promote production, certification and marketing of organic products. The National Programme for Organic Production , introduced by the Department of Commerce, is aimed at regulation and promotion of organic production for exports.
The promotion of exports of organic products is a continuous process. The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority , an autonomous organisation under the administrative control of Department of Commerce, has been mandated with implementation of NPOP and export promotion of organic products. APEDA provides assistance to the exporters of organic products under various components of its export promotion scheme. APEDA also undertakes various activities to promote exports of organic products viz. addition of new products under NPOP, making efforts to get NPOP standards recognized by the importing countries, promoting ‘India Organic’ brand through participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions, organising Buyer-Seller Meets , organising capacity building and outreach programmes etc.
India’s exports of organic products amounted to USD 1.04 billion during 2020-21. Organic foodgrains are being exported from the country mainly under the category Cereal & Millets. During 2020-21, 59908 MT of organic products under the category ‘Cereal & Millets’, worth 76 million USD, have been exported from India under the National Programme for Organic Production .
The Government of India has been promoting Organic farming in the country, including in Bundelkhand and Uttarakhand, through dedicated schemes namely ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana  and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region  since 2015-16 to cater to the needs of domestic and export markets respectively. Marketing and branding have been integral part of organic farming schemes. Assistance of Rs 6800/ ha under PKVY and Rs 5000/ ha under MOVCDNER is provided for marketing, branding and trade. Brand ‘Organic Uttarakhand’ has been developed under PKVY for the State of Uttarakhand.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Special Service and Features
Sree Visakham Thirunal Endowment Lecture at CTCRI on 05 June 2023
Thiruvananthapuram : 03 June 2023
In acknowledgment of the significant and crucial role of Sree Visakham Thirunal in popularising the cultivation of cassava in Kerala, the Indian Society for Root Crops  along with ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute , Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, annually organizes “Sree Visakham Thirunal Endowment Lecture”. The endowment lecture annually envisaging the participation of eminent scientists and technocrats from the field of Agricultural/ Biological Sciences on topics of contemporary significance. This year’s the programme will be conducted at Millennium Hall, CTCRI on 05 June 2023 at 10 am and the lecture will be done by Padma Shri Prof. T. Pradeep, Institute Professor & Deepak Parekh Institute Chair Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Madras , Chennai. Prince Adithya Varma from Travancore royal family will be the guest of honour and Dr. G. Byju, President, ISRC & Director, CTCRI will be the president of the function.
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Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Strengthening Agricultural Market Infrastructure
The Government is actively and continuously engaged in strengthening of agriculture market/ infrastructure in the country through various schemes and programs such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation  Scheme, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture , National Agriculture Market  and Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure  sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing .
AIF Scheme provides financial support to Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees  in terms of interest subvention on loans up to Rs. 2 crores. Government is providing one time assistance of Rs.75 lakhs per mandi under e-NAM Scheme to meet expenses for computer hardware, IT infrastructure, assaying equipments, etc and for creation of cleaning, grading and packaging facilities and also a compos unit in the e-NAM mandis.
The development of agriculture markets and market infrastructure has helped farmers to enhance agricultural food grain production.
As per 3rd Advance estimates , total food grain production in the country is estimated at 305.44 million tonnes, which is higher by 7.94 million tonnes than the production of foodgrain of 297.50 million tonnes achieved during 2019-20.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Home Affairs
BANNED ORGANISATIONS IN THE COUNTRY
The number of terrorist organisations listed in the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities  Act, 1967  in the country is 42 and the number of organisations declared as Unlawful Associations under the UAPA is 13. So far, 31 individuals have been listed as terrorists under Schedule Four of the Act. Law Enforcement Agencies of the Centre and the States keep continuous watch on the activities of all such organisations/individuals and take action against them as per the law.
The Unlawful Activities  Amendment Act, 2019 has added the provision of designation of individuals as terrorists, thereby reducing the chances of regrouping of the leaders/members of the banned organisations under other names.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister of Jamaica congratulates PM Modi
The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness O.N., M.P., Prime Minister of Jamaica spoke with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi over phone and congratulated him on his Party’s historic electoral victory.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Mr. Holness for his warm wishes and also for his earlier congratulatory letter. He stressed that India accorded high priority to relations with Jamaica and the entire Caribbean region. He pointed out that India’s decision to become an International Development Partner of the CARICOM Development Fund earlier this year was guided by its strong desire for deeper economic cooperation with the region.
Prime Minister Holness welcomed India’s focus on relations with Jamaica and the Caribbean. He reiterated his strong desire to work with Prime Minister Modi to further strengthen these ties in all areas of mutual interest, including effectively addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
Seminar & Exhibition on Biofuels Perspective for North-East India organised to celebrate AKAM
Indian Oil Corporation Limited today hosted a Seminar and Exhibition on a Biofuels Perspective for North East India at Guwahati. The seminar was held in connection with the GoI’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, an initiative to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of our independence and progress and achievements made in this period. This is one of AKAM’s iconic events and held with a focus on Biofuels, a sector with immense potential in North East India. The event was chaired by Sh. K V Ramanamurthy, CGM  and graced by speakers from Government  Industry , Indian Oil), government bodies like Assam Energy Development Agency, NECTAR  and senior faculty from Tezpur Central University.
The seminar explored potential, current status and way forward for biofuels such as Ethanol & Compressed Biogas from different biomass sources, Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil  and Bio-hydrogen. The event also saw active participation from senior officials from OMCs like HPCL, BPCL; government bodies like FSSAI, industry bodies like CII, LOI holders of SATAT program, potential entrepreneurs and research scholars from IIT Guwahati’s Green Cell, Tezpur University and Cotton University.
During the seminar speakers explored the immense untapped potential of NER to contribute to the nation, including in the field of biofuels. With the current estimated biomass availability of 20,000 TMT in the region, there is a scope to produce ~ 1000 TPD of Compressed Biogas . There is also a need to explore localized solutions and utilize untapped resources like bamboo, unutilized paddy straw, waste from animal husbandry and plantations. ABRPL detailed their preparations for setting up the bamboo based ethanol biorefinery and their experience thus far in the process.
Indian Oil also presented efforts made by OMCs in the field of biofuels. Indian Oil is following a policy of 10% ethanol blending in petrol from Sep’21 in the NER and is fully geared up to meet the central government’s target of 20% by 2025. In addition, Indian Oil is also making concerted efforts to give a boost to Compressed Biogas  here under the SATAT scheme  which targets production of 15 MMTPA of CBG and 50 MMTPA nationally. Indian Oil is collaborating with industry, entrepreneurs, academia and state government to achieve these targets.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Social Security Schemes for Tea Garden Workers
The Plantations Labour  Act, 1951 regulates the conditions of work in plantations and provide for the welfare of plantation labour which includes tea garden workers. The Act envisages the employers to provide the workers with housing, medical facilities, sickness and maternity benefits and other forms of social security measures. There are provisions for educational facility for the worker’s children, drinking water, conservancy, canteens, crèches and recreational facilities for the benefit of the tea plantation workers and their families in and around the work places in the tea estates. The PL Act is implemented through the concerned State Governments for which separate Rules have been framed by them.
Apart from these facilities, the Plantation Commodity Boards under their respective schemes during Medium Term Framework  period are extending Labour welfare measures to the plantation workers.
The government has subsumed the Plantation Labour Act in the Labour Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 and Social Security Code, 2020. These Codes have been passed by the Parliament and thereafter have been assented to by the President and then after notified. The Code on Social Security 2020 envisages giving of option to plantation owners to enrol its workers as member of ESIC . The ESIC provides multiple benefits like sickness benefits, unemployment allowance, maternity benefit etc. besides medical benefits to its members.
Temporary workers are engaged in the tea gardens of West Bengal  who are primarily engaged during the peak plucking months. The workmen are provided the benefits, as applicable under the Acts such as the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Act 1952, the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972, the Employees Compensation Act 1923 etc.
This information was given by Minister of State  for Labour & Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Railways
Railway starts to run 4 Rajdhani Express trains with New Upgraded Tejas Rakes
First rake with exclusive Tejas-type Smart Sleeper coaches was introduced in Indian Railways in July, 2021
Use of Tejas Coaches for long distance journey is a paradigm shift for enhancing travel experience for passengers
Indian Railways has introduceda new era of train travel experience with enhanced comfort with the conversion of Rajdhani Express coaches with new upgraded Tejas Trains.The introduction of this modern Tejas Sleeper type train for long distance journey is another paradigm shift by Indian Railways for enhancing the travel experience for the passengers.
Currently, Indian Railways is operating four Rajdhani Trains with Tejas Sleeper Coaches.
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Train No.
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Route
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Zonal Railway
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20501/02
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Agartala-AnandViharRajdhani Express
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NFR
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12951/52
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Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
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WR
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12953/54
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Mumbai – Nizamuddin August KrantiRajdhani
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WR
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12309/10
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Rajendra Nagar- New Delhi  Express
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ECR
Ultra Modern Tejas trains have been introduced on LHB platform with sleeper coaches over Indian Railways. These Ultra modern trains have following major distinguished features:
- Automatic Entrance Doors
- PA/PIS 
- Fire and Smoke Detection and Suppression system
- CCTV Cameras
- Improved lavatory- vacuum assisted flushing with bio-toilets, Superior toilet fittings, touch free soap dispenser, sealed vestibules
- LED Lights
- Aesthetically pleasing colour scheme etc.
It may be noted that the First Rajdhani upgraded with Tejas rake was introduced in July 2021 by Western Railway on Delhi-Mumbai route.
RKJ/M/ES
(Visitor Counter : 1568
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Karnataka and West Bengal with purchase of over 604.03 LMTs of paddy up to 01.02.2021.This is an increase of 17.89 % against the last year corresponding purchase of 512.36 LMT. Out of the total purchase of 604.03 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 33.57 % of total procurement.
About 88.08 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 1,14,041.90 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 51.92 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme .The sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. Further, based on the concerned State Govt. proposals, the sanction for procurement of 2.50 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Rabi Marketing Season 2020-2021 for the States of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 01.02.2021, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 3,06,198.80 MT of Moong, Urad, Tur, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs.1,647.23 Crores benefitting 1,65,522 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto 01.02.2021. At present, in respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals of Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 01.02.2021 a quantity of 90,08,018 cotton bales valuing Rs. 26,343.72 Crore has been procured benefitting 18,57,566 farmers.
Ministry of Law and Justice
Bombay High Court gets 4 new Additional Judges
President of India, in exercise of the power conferred by clause  of Article 224 of the Indian Constitution, appointed Shri Rajesh Narayandas Laddha, Shri Sanjay Ganpatrao Mehare, Shri Govinda Ananda Sanap and Shri Shivkumar Ganpatrao Dige, to be Additional Judges of the Bombay High Court, for a period of two years with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices. A notification in this regard was issued by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice today.
MONIKA
(Visitor Counter : 461
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Maternity Benefit  Act, 2017, which provides for paid maternity leave to women workers and crèche facility by establishments being implemented
Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions , 2020 has special provision relating to employment of women
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today informed that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as amended vide the Maternity Benefit  Act, 2017, which, inter-alia, provides for paid maternity leave to women workers and crèche facility by establishments. Vide Section 5 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as amended in 2017, the Government has increased paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks of which not more than eight weeks shall precede the date of expected delivery. Depending upon the nature of work assigned to a woman, the Section 5 of the Act provides for work from home for such period and on such conditions as the employer and the woman may mutually agree.
Shri Teli said that the Government has taken various steps to improve women’s participation in the labour force and quality of their employment. The Code on Social Security, 2020 has the provisions for enhancement of paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, provision for mandatory crèche facility in the establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc.
In the written reply it was stated that the Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions , 2020 has special provision relating to employment of women. As per this, women shall be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work, with their consent, before 6 a.m. and beyond 7 p.m. subject to conditions relating to safety, holidays and working hours or any other conditions to be observed by the employer as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government.
Further, to enhance the employability of female workers, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes.
Ministry of Power
NHPC participates in Annual Meeting of International Commission on Large Dams, Gothenburg, Sweden
NHPC Limited, India’s largest hydropower development organization, participated in 91st Annual Meeting of International Commission on Large Dams , held in Gothenburg, Sweden from 11th to 15th June, 2023. The NHPC delegation presented several papers and posters on critical issues faced by hydropower developers, which were highly appreciated by the participants. The topics on which NHPC presented papers included issues pertaining to management and safety of dams, seepage control measures, seismic aspects and repair and rehabilitation of dams.
NHPC’s capabilities in field of hydropower development were showcased in a special pavilion at the event. NHPC officials also participated in discussions of ICOLD Technical committee on Sedimentation and shared their experience of sediment management for projects in cascade.
NHPC has been highly benefitted with the overall exposure and experience gained by its senior officers through participation in this prestigious event.
The NHPC delegation was led by Director , R.P.Goyal and Director , Biswajit Basu. The other members of the delegation included Executive Director M.G. Gokhale, Group General Manager Raghvendra Gupta, General Manager Manjusha Mishra, General Manager Manoj Kumar Singh, General Manager R.M.A Khan, Deputy General Manager Dinesh, Deputy General Manager Sunil J. Ganvir, Senior Manager Pradeep Garnayak, Senior Manager Mainak Ghosh, Senior Manager Pallavi Khanna and Manager Varun Agarwal.
Director  R.P.Goyal and Director  Biswajit Basu, along with Senior Officers of NHPC in Gothenburg, Sweden at ICOLD 2023
Cabinet
Boost to the vulnerable rural families in Jammu & Kashmir
Special Package to Jammu & Kashmir for implementation of DAY-NRLM – Umeed extended
Cabinet approves funds to J&K under DAY – NRLM without linking it with poverty ratio
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of timeline for implementation of the Special Package under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission  for Jammu & Kashmir for another period of one year during 2018-19.
The Cabinet also approved allocation of funds to the State under DAY-NRLM on a need basis for implementation of the Special Package without linking it with poverty ratio. There is no additional financial implication as the approval is to extend the time line to cover two thirds of the vulnerable households in the State within in the originally approved financial outlay of Rs. 755.32 crore. An amount of Rs.143.604 crore will be required for the period of one year during 2018-19.
Impact:
- This will help in covering all the vulnerable rural households in the State  within a definite time frame.
- It will ensure mobilization of households under the auto inclusion category and households with at least one deprivation category listed in the Socio Economic Caste Census – 2011.
- It will also ensure coverage of all the blocks in Jammu & Kashmir under DAY-NRLM and ensures social inclusion, social development, promotion of livelihoods leading to poverty alleviation in the State.
Background:
Due to unavoidable reasons and disturbed conditions in the State, the Special Package as approved in May 2013 could not be fully implemented. Now, the State Government has requested Government of India to consider extension of the earlier approved implementation schedule of the Special Package and continued funding of DAY-NRLM in Jammu and Kashmir on a demand driven basis without linking allocation with poverty ratio during this extended period. Hence the approval by the Cabinet which will give a boost to the vulnerable rural families in Jammu & Kashmir.